Dalian should develop two types of "greenways," not only to meet the needs of residents for hiking and fitness, but more importantly, to enable people to walk to work or students to walk to school, while also enhancing the depth and quality of Dalian's tourist attractions — this was proposed in the proposal titled "On Building 'Dalian Greenways'" submitted by the Dalian Federation of Industry and Commerce during the fifth session of the 11th Dalian Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Current Situation: Hilly Areas Not Fully Utilized
Dalian boasts uniquely rich natural resources. Scenic spots such as Binhai Road, Yingbin Road, Lushun Middle Road, and Jinlongsi Forest Park have become highlights for leisure tourism. At the same time, a number of fitness trails are completed each year. Due to limitations imposed by the original urban planning, the green space ratio in the city center has not seen significant improvement, and areas that contribute to the green space statistics are mostly hilly terrains.
Some of these areas have motor vehicle roads that are not open to the public, such as the stretch from Nanshidao Street to Fujiayuan; some have fire access roads, such as the area on the mountain at Tiger Beach Bird Forest; and some are informal paths formed by residents for leisure and fitness, such as those from Shidao Street to Xinghai, and from Shikui Road to Wuchang Street, among others.
The main reasons these hilly areas are underutilized include: some roads belong to large enterprises or government agencies and are occupied but not used; poor road conditions and long-term neglect; poor surrounding environments; lack of lighting facilities; and restricted opening hours.
The proposal suggests that the government renovate and maintain existing informal (mountain) paths within the urban area, integrating them with newly built fitness trails to create "green walking corridors" in the main urban zone.
On one hand, this would provide environmentally friendly and safe routes for commuters and schoolchildren, thereby reducing reliance on cars, improving air quality, and alleviating traffic congestion.
At the same time, drawing on the experience of Guangdong Province’s "greenway network," the main urban area and suburban areas — including seas, mountains, parks, reservoirs, orchards, and distinctive buildings — could be connected via walking and cycling paths to form a network, creating a "rural tourism greenway."
Key measures include: adapting to local conditions and utilizing existing path systems; avoiding areas requiring land expropriation and resisting uniform designs; minimizing permanent structures and buildings, as greenways require ecological plant landscapes; unifying signage for rest areas, snack stands, restrooms, parking lots, etc.; and ensuring reserved planning in cases of funding shortages. Reporter Li Shesheng. Glossary: What is a Greenway?
According to Wang Xin, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Industry and Commerce and one of the proposal’s authors, a greenway is a linear green open space, typically established along natural and artificial corridors such as coastlines, valleys, and ridgelines. It features scenic recreational routes for pedestrians and cyclists, connecting major parks, nature reserves, scenic spots, historical sites, and residential communities. Greenways mainly consist of non-motorized paths such as footpaths and bike trails, along with recreational facilities like parking lots, bike rental shops, rest stations, tourist shops, and specialty food outlets, as well as landscaped buffer zones of certain widths. Greenway construction generally does not require the use of construction land quotas, is characterized by low investment and quick returns, aligns with the goals of building low-carbon cities, and serves as one of the effective measures to boost domestic demand, stimulate consumption, and drive economic development.
Dalian boasts uniquely rich natural resources. Scenic spots such as Binhai Road, Yingbin Road, Lushun Middle Road, and Jinlongsi Forest Park have become highlights for leisure tourism. At the same time, a number of fitness trails are completed each year. Due to limitations imposed by the original urban planning, the green space ratio in the city center has not seen significant improvement, and areas that contribute to the green space statistics are mostly hilly terrains.
Some of these areas have motor vehicle roads that are not open to the public, such as the stretch from Nanshidao Street to Fujiayuan; some have fire access roads, such as the area on the mountain at Tiger Beach Bird Forest; and some are informal paths formed by residents for leisure and fitness, such as those from Shidao Street to Xinghai, and from Shikui Road to Wuchang Street, among others.
The main reasons these hilly areas are underutilized include: some roads belong to large enterprises or government agencies and are occupied but not used; poor road conditions and long-term neglect; poor surrounding environments; lack of lighting facilities; and restricted opening hours.
The proposal suggests that the government renovate and maintain existing informal (mountain) paths within the urban area, integrating them with newly built fitness trails to create "green walking corridors" in the main urban zone.
On one hand, this would provide environmentally friendly and safe routes for commuters and schoolchildren, thereby reducing reliance on cars, improving air quality, and alleviating traffic congestion.
At the same time, drawing on the experience of Guangdong Province’s "greenway network," the main urban area and suburban areas — including seas, mountains, parks, reservoirs, orchards, and distinctive buildings — could be connected via walking and cycling paths to form a network, creating a "rural tourism greenway."
Key measures include: adapting to local conditions and utilizing existing path systems; avoiding areas requiring land expropriation and resisting uniform designs; minimizing permanent structures and buildings, as greenways require ecological plant landscapes; unifying signage for rest areas, snack stands, restrooms, parking lots, etc.; and ensuring reserved planning in cases of funding shortages. Reporter Li Shesheng. Glossary: What is a Greenway?
According to Wang Xin, Vice Chairman of the Federation of Industry and Commerce and one of the proposal’s authors, a greenway is a linear green open space, typically established along natural and artificial corridors such as coastlines, valleys, and ridgelines. It features scenic recreational routes for pedestrians and cyclists, connecting major parks, nature reserves, scenic spots, historical sites, and residential communities. Greenways mainly consist of non-motorized paths such as footpaths and bike trails, along with recreational facilities like parking lots, bike rental shops, rest stations, tourist shops, and specialty food outlets, as well as landscaped buffer zones of certain widths. Greenway construction generally does not require the use of construction land quotas, is characterized by low investment and quick returns, aligns with the goals of building low-carbon cities, and serves as one of the effective measures to boost domestic demand, stimulate consumption, and drive economic development.
